Hector, and thy rebuke is just. As for thee, thy heart is like iron, ever set on battle; yet are beauty and love also the gifts of the gods, and not to be despised. (But now set Menelaüs and me in the midst, and let us fight, man to man, for the far Helen and for all her possesstons. And if he prevail over me, let him take her and them and depart, and the Greeks with him, leaving you to dwell in peace; but if I prevail they shall depart without her.

Then Hector was glad, and going before the Trojan ranks, holding his spear by the middle, he kept them back. But the Greeks would have shot at him with arrows and slung stones, only Agamemnon cried aloud and said, "Hold, Hector has somewhat to say to us."

Then Hector said: "Hear, Trojans and Cavex, what Park saith, Paris who hath bred the quartet between us: Let all besides lay their arms egen the ground and let Menelaüs and me right to the tale Heigo and all her 10 AOA is the better keep by a cook N; De rest sat swear faith

..

pard spale: -Listen

to me, for this trouble toucheth me nearer than you all. The Greeks and the men of Troy would fain, I think, be at peace, for they have suffered grievous things because of my quarrel and of the wrong that Paris did. Therefore we two will fight together, and let him perish that is doomed to die. Bring two sheep, ye men of Troy, a white wether for the sun, and a black ewe for the earth, and we will bring another for Zeus. And because the sons of Priam are high-handed and light of faith, let Priam himself come, and do sacrifice, and take the oath. Young men are ever changeable; but when an old man is among them, he

taketh thought for all."

So spake Menelaus; and both the armies were glad, hoping to see an end of doleful war. Then Hector sent a herald to the city, to summon Priam to the sacrifice and to fetch the sheep.

And while he went,
Laodicé, fairest of the

Iris, in the guise of daughters of Priam,

came to Helen, where she sat in her hall, weaving a great web of double breadth and dyed with purple, whereon she had wrought

many battles of the Greeks and the men of Troy. Iris came near and said: “Come, dear sister, and behold this marvel. Heretofore the Greeks and the men of Troy have fought together on the plain, but now they sit in peace, and the war is stayed; for Paris and Menelaüs are to fight for thee, and thou shalt be the wife of him that shall prevail."

So spake the goddess, and roused in Helen. sweet longing for her former spouse, and her city, and her parents. So she wrapped herself in white apparel, and went forth from her chamber, weeping the while.

Meanwhile Priam sat on the wall with the old men. They had ceased from war, but in speech they were to be admired; they were like to the crickets that sit upon a tree in the wood, and send forth a thin, sweet voice. And as they talked, the fair Helen came near, and they said: "What wonder that men should suffer much for such a woman, for indeed she is divinely fair! Yet let her depart in the ships, nor bring a curse on us and our children."

But Priam called to her: "Come near, my

daughter, that thou mayest see him that was thy husband, and thy friends and kinsmen. I find no fault with thee, for 'tis not thou, 'tis the gods who have brought about all this trouble. But tell me, who is this warrior that I see, so fair and strong? There are others even a head taller than he, but none of such majesty."

And Helen answered: "Ah, my father! I owe thee much reverence; yet would that I had died before I left husband and child to follow thy son. But as for this warrior, he is Agamemnon, a good king and brave soldier, and my brother-in-law in the old days."

Happy Agamemnon," said Priam, "to rule over so many! Never saw I such an army gathered together, not even when I went to help the Phrygians when they were assembled on the banks of the Sangarus against the Amazons. But who is this that I see, not so tall as Agamemnon, but of broader shoulders? His arms lie upon the ground, and he is walking through the ranks of his men just as some great ram walks through a flock of sheep."

"This," said Helen, "is Ulysses of Ithaca,

who is better in craft and counsel than all other men."

"'Tis well spoken, lady," said Antenor. "Well I remember Ulysses when he came hither on an embassy about thee with the brave Menelaüs. My guests they were, and I knew them well. And I remember how, in the assembly of the Trojans, when both were standing, Menelaus was the taller, but when they sat, Ulysses was the more majestic to behold. And when they rose to speak, Menelaus said few words, but said them wisely and well; and Ulysses you had thought him a fool, so stiffly he held his sceptre and so downcast were his eyes; but as soon as he began, oh! the mighty voice, and the words thick as the falling snow! No man then might vie with Ulysses, nor thought we any more of his outward appearance."

Then Priam said, "Who is that stalwart hero, so tall and strong, overtopping all by head and shoulders ?"

"That," said Helen, "is mighty Ajax, the bulwark of the Greeks And next to him is Idomeneus Otten has Menelas had him as